E-Hawks Close Regular Season With Win

July 15, 2014

STORM?LAKE - It took an extra inning of effort on Wednesday night but Emmetsburg's E-Hawks earned a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Storm Lake in the regular season finale. the win gives Emmetsburg a mark of 7-7 in the Lakes for the campaign, and 16-11 overall as they enter the post-season tonight?(Tuesday) at Estherville.

The E-Hawks would start Wednesday's contest with two quick outs, but Luke Jackson would single only to be left waiting on base when the at-bat ended. Storm Lake would come up in the bottom of the first and put two runners on base off a walk and a single, but then went down two outs before a double would score two runs to give the Tornadoes the 2-0 lead when the inning ended.

Emmetsburg would be retired in order in the top of the second inning and the Tornadoes would get a leadoff walk and a second walk, only to leave both runners stranded when the inning ended.

Still trailing 2-0 to start the third frame, Emmetsburg would get Joe Jackson on base off an error to lead off the at-bat, but a strikeout was followed by a double play to end the opportunity.

Storm Lake would come up in the bottom of the third with a leadoff walk, and then got a second walk before an error would allow a run to score. Two more baserunners would get on base and a run would score for a 4-0 lead before the E-Hawk defense got two outs, but an error would push a third run over the plate before the inning ended with the Tornadoes holding a 5-0 advantage.

The E-Hawks would continued to struggled offensively in the top of the fourth, leaving Luke Jackson stranded after he was hit by a pitch. But Storm?Lake would fare no better, as they would strand two runners to end the inning.

Emmetsburg needed to get something going as the fifth inning began, and a leadoff walk of Wes Schultes started the process. However, the walk was nullified when Schultes was caught stealing and thrown out at second.

But Jacob Kibbie would be hit by a pitch to get on base and quickly stole second base before Joe Jackson singled, advancing Kibbie to third base. A big double from Max Dunlap would score Kibbie for the E-Hawks' first run of the game as Jackson moved to third, but on the next play, Dillon VanOosbree sacrificed to second to allow Jackson to score his run, but Dunlap would be left at third when Aaron Bird lined out to end the at-bat.

Storm Lake would get a leadoff single and would bring the run around to score before their half of the inning ended to hold on to a 6-2 advantage to start the sixth inning.

Luke Jackson was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the sixth, but Greg Wesley and Zach Anderson would both be put out to put the E-Hawks in a hole quickly. With Jackson waiting at second base, Wes Schultes singled and Jackson moved to third before coming home on the throw.

Jacob Kibbie singled and Joe Jackson added a single that brought Schultes over the plate. Max Dunlap would draw a walk to load the sacks, but Dillon VanOosbree hit a fielders' choice that put Dunlap out at second to end the threat, but not before Emmetsburg had cut the margin to 6-4.

The Tornadoes would get a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth, but would leave two runners on base to end the inning to set up the big seventh inning.

Emmetsburg would start the inning with Aaron Bird being put out on a catch of a foul tip. Luke Jackson would come up and got on base off an error at first base, and Greg Wesley reached on an error by the pitcher to put E-Hawks at first and second.

Zach Anderson would be called out on strikes, but Wes Schultes would single to allow Jackson to score his run. Jacob Kibbie would reach on an error that allowed Wesley to tie the game up at 6-6.

With Schultes standing at third and Kibbie at second, Joe Jackson would line out to end the at-bat.

With the score now tied up at 6-6, Storm Lake would get two runners on base, but couldn't capitalize, sending the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, Max Dunlap grounded out to lead off, but Dillon VanOosbree drew a walk. Aaron Bird flew out for the second out, but Luke Jackson singled and Greg Wesley drew a walk to load the sacks for the E-Hawks.

Zach Anderson came up to the plate and was hit by a pitch, which walked VanOosbree over the plate and left the sacks loaded, but Wes Schultes flew out to send the E-Hawks out to play some defense.

Storm Lake would quickly go down two outs, but a late single gave the Tornadoes a glimmer of hope, but the glimmer faded as a line drive to short would end the ballgame with Emmetsburg coming from behind to earn the 7-6 win in eight innings.

Luke Jackson would go the distance on the mound for Emmetsburg in the win, as he gave up six runs, two earned, off eight hits with eight walks and seven strikeouts.

For the E-Hawks, Max Dunlap punched out a double, while Luke Jackson, Wes Schultes and Joe Jackson all had two hits and Jacob Kibbie added one hit.